Specificity and activity assay for phospholipid transfer proteins and method for identification and characterization of diseased states

A method to determine the activity of phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) in a sample, which method comprises:

• incubating said sample in a reaction mixture which comprises a buffer medium comprising donor particles which donor particles comprise labeled PLTP substrate and an aqueous core;
• an acceptor emulsion to which the substrate may be transferred, and sufficient concentration of salt to effect disruption of said donor particles, for a time sufficient to effect transfer of said substrate from the donor particles to the acceptor and determining the amount of label incorporated into said acceptor, whereby the activity of PLTP in the sample is determined.